NASA and ISS international partners will use the addition -- called the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, or BEAM -- mainly as a technology demonstration to see how a space module made of non-metallic material instead of aluminum will handle radiation and thermal transmissions in space, said Lori Garver, NASA's deputy administrator.

NASA and its ISS international partners also want to familiarize astronauts living in space for long periods of time with BEAM and explore technologies and alternative space habitats for future long-term space missions, she said. NASA's Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Program is sponsoring the deal.

NASA has awarded Bigelow Aerospace a $17.8 million contract to deliver its Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (shown here connected to the ISS in a photo illustration) to the International Space Station for experimental use for two years upon its launch to the station in 2015. The move will serve mainly as a technology demonstration to see how a space module made of non-metallic material instead of aluminum will handle radiation and thermal transmissions in space. (Source: Bigelow Aerospace)

BEAM, which is cylindrical, weighs about 3,000 pounds and is about 13 feet long and 10.5 feet wide. It is scheduled to launch on a SpaceX commercial rocket on May 2015 and berth with the ISS Tranquility node thereafter using the station's robotic arm. The expandable module will be connected to the ISS for a period of two years, during which time astronauts can go in and out of the module from other nodes of the station. After two years it will be jettisoned from the ISS and burn up upon re-entry into the earth's atmosphere, Garver said.

Specifically, BEAM is comprised of a series of structures, including a "scuffcoat" internal membrane with an air barrier structure inside, said Bigelow's founder and president Robert Bigelow.

Additionally, the module has "multiple layers of material that provide debris protection and radiation protection," he said during the press conference. The company's interest in developing a module that would mitigate thermal influences was not as high given that the structure will reside on the "shady side of the station," he added.

The move to use BEAM is not only a technologically experimental one for NASA, but also one of the agency's first grand gestures since it began working with private-sector partners as part of a commercial space program, according to Garver. "It's our first commercial real estate in space, if you will," she said.

NASA, which has experienced budget problems in the last few years, is teaming with commercial space partners like Bigelow and Boeing to continue its exploration of space beyond low-earth orbit. By teaming with these partners, the agency hopes to engage in experimentation that will allow humans to live in space for longer periods of time, as well as establish a space station on the moon, among other endeavors.

When President Obama took office, the space station was meant to de-orbit by 2015, Garver said. However, NASA and its partners will now use the space station through 2020 with help from commercial space partners. "For us the space station has been a stepping stone to going farther," she said. "We always knew there would be a time when NASA wasn't footing the whole bill." The partnership with Bigelow is a part of this sharing of expenses.

Bigelow Aerospace, based in Las Vegas, is a company created by Bigelow -- an entrepreneur as well as a space-exploration and paranormal enthusiast -- and his wife Victoria Lacas Alexander. So far, the pair have invested $250 million of their own money in the company and plan to invest at least that much more to reach its goals for space exploration, Bigelow said.

NASA's mission is changing and while the agency doesn't have the aura of wonder it once had in its heyday, it's still quite interesting to see how it's exploration of space will change as it works with commercial partners. Bigelow's module allows NASA to expand the ISS without spending a lot of its own investment, the research that will be done in the module will be important as the agency ponders longer missions that put humans deeper into space than they have yet been.

Interesting report. It does seem that the story beneath the story is the changing priorities and goals of NASA. Will be interesting going forward to see what types of space projects come forward. Thanks.

The material is called vectran, Ann--they were kind of vague about it when I wrote the story but more info has come out now. It's like kevlar but I think even stronger. Here is a wikipedia page about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vectran

I think NASA has made the right move here. They have taken a bold decision in investing on technology which will benefit them in the long run. Many might think its stupid to invest such a big amount for space technology but trust me it can do wonders and NASA will be able to predict more on planets and movements on a regular basis.

Yes, apresher, it will be interesting to see how commercialization will affect NASA. Will commercial interests influence the space agency's decisions, or can it continue to act with merely government authority to contend with? I can't imagine how it won't be affected by private interests, but that could be a good thing as business investment could allow the agency to attain bigger and better things. I suppose we will see!

Thanks, Elizabeth. According to that Wikipedia article, the fibers are used for the matrix in some composites, and NASA has already used this material in other space projects, including some Mars landing craft airbags.

I guess I'm just getting too old but did I see the word "start-up" in Bigelow's wiki? I'm wondering who Robert Bigelow "contributed" to.

My question is (since this is a human habitat) If this were an airplane made by a "start-up" how many of the readers would be willing to try it out. As we've seen recently even a prestigious name like Boeing can have "unpredicitable" growing pains with a new idea and they (Boeing) know quite a bit about airplanes.

Glad to help, Ann. It also educated me a lot on the material, which I was not familiar with. It seems quite durable and practical...I suppose NASA will see how it works in space and its prospect for future uses.

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